Arancini – Three Cheese Fried Risotto Balls

These Italian three cheese fried risotto balls, Arancini, make the prettiest appetizer, or even a meatless meal. Arborio rice, cheese, garlic and herbs, breaded and fried until golden brown, served up with marinara and a dusting of grated cheese.

Our favorite little hometown restaurant, Bella Vita, has these Arancini on their menu. They are my favorite appetizer they offer. They serve them on a small plate of marinara, dusted with cheese and sprinkled with fresh Italian Parsley. The presentation is one of my favorite parts, well that’s until you cut into one. Then it’s time to scoop up all of that yumminess and clean the plate, prettiness goes out the window!

Today is Freaky Friday!! What is Freaky Friday you ask? It’s a little group I started a couple of years back, where we are secretly assigned pages and get to cook/bake from our assigned page, then on one chosen Friday we reveal all of our recipes, and get to see what a fellow blogger has chosen to make from our site. It’s always a lot of fun, and to call it delicious would be an understatement.

For this round I was assigned LeMoine Family Kitchen. This scrumptious recipe blog is run by Angela LeMoine, wife to her High School sweetheart, Steve, and mom to two adorable boys, Jack & Ryan. Angela is Italian and grew up in New Jersey. When she’s not making something magical in the kitchen, she’s doing yoga, teaching Zumba or decorating her home with furniture pieces she paints into masterpieces! She’s super duper talented, and to top that off, one of the sweetest people I have ever had the pleasure to “meet.” (hoping someday that will be in person!!)

SPINACH & ARTICHOKE STUFFED SHELLS – Jumbo pasta shells stuffed with a mixture of spinach, artichokes and a mixture of cheeses. Topped with marinara sauce and baked to perfection. A meatless meal the whole family will enjoy!

I have been assigned Angela’s blog one other time, and made her Spinach & Artichoke Stuffed Shells. I feel like making something that isn’t Italian, when given the chance, from Angela’s blog, seems sinful. There are SO MANY CHOICES. Although, funny story – another blogger friend, Brandi did make Angela’s Black Bean Soup, and loved it. Then another blogger friend, Candi, saw she made it, and made it herself, and loved it. I had to see what all the rage was, so I made it, too, and we loved it also! So, I guess what I am saying is that, she doesn’t have only Italian recipes. In fact, she is the queen of the scone. Check out these Chocolate Chip Scones she made last fall. Or these muffins!! When she posted them, she said her hubby told her they were the best muffins ever. How can you not want to make The Best Mixed Berry Muffins ever?!

EASY BLACK BEAN SOUP – Easily prepared, black bean soup, so rich and creamy and full of goodness. You will be amazed at the magnitude of flavors this one offers! Top it however you like!

I digress. Back to these Three Cheese Arancini. A while back I saw that Angela had shared them, and was like “Hey!! Those are the things I love at Bella Vita …. must. make. them.” So, when I drew her name this round, I already knew what I was making. I made them a few weeks ago, keeping them a secret from you all has been the hardest part. I made them on a Friday afternoon, and prepared enough to sample and take photos of. The rest of them, I froze and took them out for Super Bowl Sunday. When I made the first small batch I fried them in my cast iron skillet. When I made the rest of them, I dug out my little Fry Daddy fryer to make the process go faster. I have been thinking about getting an air fryer – and wondered how these would turn out in one of those? hummmm? There are a few steps to these, but in the end, you will be so glad you made them! Plus, like I mentioned before, you can freeze them and bring them out as needed.

Our recipe starts with Arborio rice. I found mine at World Market. Another must, Pecorino Romano cheese.

Form into balls using 1/4 cup mixture for each. Place on a cookie sheet and refrigerate for 15+ minutes, or until they are completely cool and are easy to work with.

Roll each ball in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs. Now they are ready to cook or to freeze. Frying them takes only a couple of minutes. Place them on a paper towel to drain any excess grease.

Plate them by pouring a small amount of warm marinara sauce in the middle of the plate and place the Arancini on top. Finish with a sprinkling of Romano cheese and fresh parsley. They make a gorgeous appetizer or would make a wonderful meatless meal with a salad along side.

Check out the other recipes made for this Winter Round of Freaky Friday:

Arancini - Three Cheese Fried Risotto Balls

These Italian three cheese fried risotto balls, Arancini, make the prettiest appetizer, or even a meatless meal. Arborio rice, cheese, garlic and herbs, breaded and fried until golden brown, served up with marinara and a dusting of grated cheese.

Scoop the mixture, using a 1/4 cup measuring cup, onto a lined baking sheet. Pop into the refrigerator for about 15 minutes until completely cool and easy to handle.

Place your breading ingredients into separate bowls. Roll mixture into a ball then coat in flour, then in egg and finally into the breadcrumbs.

Place back onto the baking sheet and continue coating all the rice balls.

At this point you can either fry them or freeze them.

To Freeze: Place breaded rice balls on a baking sheet and double wrap with plastic wrap.

To Fry: You can fry the rice balls in a deep fat fryer or in a cast iron skillet. Heat vegetable oil over medium high heat, you will know it's hot enough when you carefully drop a pinch of breadcrumbs into the oil and bubbles immediately form around them and they rise to the top.

Carefully add a few rice balls to the pot and cook until golden. It will take a couple of minute for them to brown and heat through. Repeat with the remaining rice balls.

Oh my goodness what a warm comforting meal! I say meal because I think I’d have a hard time being lady-like and only having one or two. Yep, a platter is definitely needed! 😀 Now you can enjoy these at home!!

We make arancini all the time…. why have I never thought to freeze them? That is brilliant! Im definitely going to have to try this recipe, as its a little creamier than the one I use and they sound simply amazing!

Michaela! This makes my heart so happy!! You picked a recipe that is near and dear to my heart and brings such happy thoughts! While it is not a throw together easy one, the end results are worth it big time! These are such a treat in my house! You did a beautiful job all around and I am so happy you enjoyed them!! Much love and appreciation my friend!

I agree that Angela has some wonderful Italian recipes. I’m excited to try this one and think I’ll double the recipe so I can freeze some too. Thanks for organizing Freaky Friday. I love all the recipes so far!

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Hey, there! I am Michaela. I have been a stay at home Mom to my four children for a little over two
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